Page 65 of Wicked Games of Desire

I take a sip of the bubbly drink she shoved in my direction, longing for something to ease the dryness now in my mouth. “Your son has good taste.” I fake a smile, not wanting to make small talk with her while I’m forced to wait for this meeting to be over.

I shift my stance slightly so I can watch the boys. Alessandro looks like that vein on his head is going to pop at any second. Maddox lights up a smoke, sucking back the nicotine like his life depends on it, and Ricky’s eyes dart across the room, landing on me, his cheeky smile fading in a way that makes me feel like vomiting back up mychampagne. If he’s worried, then I know whatever they’re discussing with Geovani is bad. Enzo plays the part of don to a T, commanding all of their attention as he pats Geovani on the back like they’re old friends. I would bet my left tit that he’s up to something. Enzo and probably Geovani as well.

Valentina’s arm brushes mine as she joins me watching them. “Bet you’re curious to know why your boyfriend’s here tonight.”

Her eyes twinkle with a disgusting type of pleasure, the kind that can only be gained by hurting others. “Excuse me?” I snap, wondering what games she’s playing.

The corners of her ruby-red lips curl up nastily. “You heard me. I know exactly what you’ve been up to, you little harlot, and it’s not going to slide with me. My boy deserves better. A wife who is devoted to him. Obedient and true. From tomorrow, you have one job and one job only: to give us a Moretti heir.”

For a split second I’m blinded by the rage coursing through my veins. I see red. I don’t care if she’s the fucking queen of England. She can’t talk to me like that. I’m now being reduced to nothing more than a babymaker. Is she kidding me? “Let me remind you who is forcing whom to marry your son tomorrow. This is not the life I chose.” Bitterness drips off my every word. How dare she.

“No, but you’re pretty happy about how it ended up, aren’t you?” She raises a plucked-to-death eyebrow. “My boys at your beck and call. What I don’t fathom is how you managed it. Maddox is so messed up in the head, he hasn’t taken a liking to another human since his stepmother died. But he watches you. He protects you. He even goes against his boss’s orders to let you manipulate him into doing things he knows he shouldn’t.”

Right on cue, Maddox’s eyes meet mine. My heart races because I know everything she’s saying is true. But how the hell does she know?

“You’ve even captivated Ricky’s attention, and that boy’s easily distracted. But not with you. He follows you around like a little lost puppy, just waiting for you to pat him and tell him he’s a good boy.” She drops her head closer to my ear. “And you do, don’t you. You use your pretty face to lure them in, and then you let them all screw you like the little whore you are.”

Goosebumps prickle up my bare arms. “Are you jealous?” I huff out a laugh. What the fuck is this woman on? She raised them. One of them is her flesh and blood, but it’s clear that’s exactly what’s going on here. She can’t stand the thought of them falling for me. It’s also blatantly obvious that she’s been watching us with more than just her eyes. This bitch, and probably her husband, must have the safe house bugged with cameras.

“No, sweetheart, I’m not jealous.” She brushes her long dark hair over her shoulder and straightens her spine. “I have plans for them. While you and Alessandro are busy making my grandson, my boys will be off making themselves useful, all in the name of the family business.” Her eyes bore into me, and for a second, I wonder who’s really in charge here, her husband or her. She knows a hell of a lot about what is going on for someone who is supposed to be arm candy. “See the young girl over there? She’s striking, isn’t she?”

I glance in the direction she’s indicating and spot a young girl, likely around my age, wearing a long emerald-green dress. With her hair flowing down her back in waves as dark as night and her tanned skin, she exudes beauty in a way I never could. “She is,” I agree, wondering where this is going.

“Geovani’s little sister, Elisa. Ricky’s going to marry her, reconnecting our two families.” She practically squeals in delight as she claps her hands together.

I instinctively move away from her, feeling a chill down my back. What the fuck? My heart races. This is the first I’m hearing about her. Ricky has never mentioned another girl, and stupidly, I never asked. For fuck’s sake, I can still feel the memory of his throbbing cock inside of me. He told me he loved me.

“Is he aware of that?” I spit back angrily on his behalf. There is no way he knows about this. He couldn’t.

She nods her head, with the slyest of smiles dancing across her face. That was exactly the reaction she wanted. I can’t hide my disgust. It’s radiating from my every pore. “Everyone must play their part, Harley. Even Maddox. Day after your wedding, he and Marco will leave for Italy. They should be gone for at least the next twelve months.” She places a hand over her chest in fake shock. “I’m surprised the boys didn’t tell you the good news themselves.”

My hand twitches by my side, and I clench my fist, fighting the urge to slap her. Who knows what kind of fresh hell that would land me in. Instead, I shake my head, walking away before I cause a scene. A bitter laugh leaves my lips. This is unbelievable. It’s been five minutes and I’ve heard enough of this shit already.

But she’s not done messing with me yet. She grabs my arm, her French-manicured nails digging into my flesh. “You won’t be laughing tomorrow, sweetheart. Enjoy your last night of freedom,” she spits bitterly, the glassiness of her eyes implying she’s already tanked.

“Whatever.” I pull out of her grip and stride back across the room toward Alessandro, trying not to let the threatening tears fall. His mother’s a fucking bitch. Ricky spots me first and intercepts my path, his hands coming to my shoulders, redirecting me. “Ricky, I’m warning you,” I seethe, angrier than I think I’ve ever been. How dare they manipulate all of our lives like this. I won’t let them. I can’t.

He shakes his head, a sadness in his eyes that kills me. “Now’s not the time, baby doll,” he says quietly. And I know everything I just heard is true.

My bottom lip trembles with the adrenaline surging through me. “Why?”

“Enzo’s lost his fucking mind. Alessandro needs to do a little damage control.”

“His wife isn’t any better. Look at the claw marks.” I raise my arm for him to see where she drew blood. The look of confusion he gives me makes my stomach churn even more. “Ricky, why are you looking at me like that?”

He laughs lightheartedly. “No reason. She’s a little overprotective of us, I’m sure after tomorrow she will see you as a part of the family and be over her hissy fit.” His words are light, but I see the heaviness in his eyes. He’s worried and laughing to cover it up.

“Are you really going to marry Geovani’s little sister?” I whisper, finding it difficult to force the words out.

He glances at the beautiful girl across the room, then his eyes come back to mine. “Like I said, Enzo’s lost his mind,” he mutters, but from the worried look in his eyes, I know there’s some truth to what she was saying. Even if the boys were unaware of it until tonight.

For the first time since meeting him, I wish I could throw my arms around him and tell him how I really feel. My eyes meet his and I feel tears welling as panic takes over. “They can’t force you to marry her or force my brother and Maddox to leave. You guys have to tell them.” In an attempt to reassure me, he squeezes my hand, but I can sense his own anxiety.

A hand comes to my lower back, and I’m pulled into Alessandro’s warm embrace. “Let’s enjoy our meal,” he announces, like there’s no shit going down. But I’m not stupid. I can feel the tension in the air.Shit is practically raining from the ceiling in this place tonight. He guides me over to the long table set up in the middle of the reception venue, and I take the seat he holds out for me.

Marco joins us, sitting beside me. “Evening, Sis.” He addresses me for the first time tonight, somewhat more relaxed than he was when we walked in and he was with Enzo.

I raise a brow, but he just offers me a lopsided smile. One that doesn’t give me any reassurance. Everything Valentina said is true. I’m going to be left all alone with Alessandro. Married, knocked up, and miserable because my life isn’t my own. And the three men I care about deeply will be long gone.

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